DAVIES KNOCK CRUCIAL IN WIN
CARMARTHEN Wanderers returned to winning ways with a hard-fought 30-run victory over Gwent visitors Panteg at Trinity Fields.
The win keeps them fifth in South Wales Premier League 2 on 154 points.
They are seven adrift of fourthplaced Ynysygerwn and 11 off Penarth, who lie third.
Skipper Gareth Thomas lost the toss and the Wanderers batted first in damp conditions after early-morning rain.
They reached 150 for the loss of seven wickets in their 50 overs.
Opening batsman Owain Davies was top scorer with a patient 42, assisted by excellent contributions from Owain Binding (23), Gareth Thomas (33) and Darryl Griffiths (23 not out).
The latter added valuable late-order runs with the assistance of Garmon Dyfri and Owen Bailey.
Abbas Ashraf, Yaar Mohammed Balouch and Chris White all took two wickets.
In response, Panteg were well placed at 54-2, which included the prized wicket of Akhtar Balouch who was well caught by Garmon Dyfri off the bowling of the economical Iestyn Scourfield for four.
Tight bowling, particularly by Gareth Thomas (3-24) and Ian Hughes (1-20), made inroads into the Panteg middle order and they were eventually bowled out for 120 in the 42nd over, giving the Wanderers a valuable haul of 17 points.
Owain Binding and Robbie Crawford both claimed two wickets.
Skipper Thomas will have been pleased with the overall team performance, including the excellent fielding produced by his side, which included a run out from the boundary edge by Dyfri.
The match sponsors were Clay Shaw Butler, W Kingsbury Limited, Graham Owens and Quins supporters, Clive Thomas and friends.
On Saturday the Wanderers head east to play Malpas.
Meanwhile, Carmarthen Wanderers Seconds returned to earth with a bump as their run of three consecutive victories ended with a heavy nine-wicket defeat at Mumbles.
The home side won a crucial toss and inserted the Wanderers to bat on a wet wicket.
The visiting batsmen failed to cope with the ball lifting off a length on the weather-affected wicket and were skittled out for only 72.
Opening batsman Andrew Harley was the only player to offer any resistance and batted most of the innings for a hard-earned 37.
Skipper Ian Taylor (10) was the only other player to reach double figures as the Wanderers scorecard made for poor reading.
Mumbles easily knocked the runs off in only 11 overs on the drying wicket, losing only one wicket to spinner Steff Jones as the Wanderers
headed home without a single point.
Skipper Taylor said: “We lost an important toss which proved decisive as our batsmen really struggled on the wet strip.
“But I didn’t expect us to get rolled over for such a low total.
“Mumbles took advantage and fully deserved their win.”